3 minute read
Fears of getting sucked for low-wage
Thousands of Californians abruptly lost their jobs when the Bay Area counties enacted mandatory shelter-in-place orders last month requiring all the non-essential businesses to close. The governor also followed with an order encompassing the entire state. This puts the low-wage workers at risk, as the orders were swift and a devastating blow. Experts say that the damage from COVID-19 may linger long even after it dies off. Despite the precautions by the local, state and national government, some low-income workers, particularly from the bay area may get pushed down even further down the economic ladder. Furthermore, it’s a likely situation most low-income workers missing their rent payment and end up on the streets which only worsens the homelessness crisis in the state. It is likely that many jobs might never return after the virus dies and many small businesses closed by the virus may remain closed.
During the week ending March 14, California reported that there was a 34% rise in unemployment cases, with over 58,000 people filing claims, this is according to a report by the Department of Labor. It is worth noting that this data was collected before the mandatory shelter-in-place orders. The governor has also reported that so far, California has received over 80,000 applications. And even if the state, local and federal officials are jumping in to help ease the situation, the majority are the people falling through the gaps. Many of the low-wage income earners in the bay area are now looking for government assistance but majority so far are without luck. For small business owners, the situation is even worse. Apart from worrying about their
pockets, they have to worry about paying their employees and keeping their businesses afloat. These people have to pay rents, loan payments and a $6,000 state tax bill at the end of the month.
The corona Virus Disease has also impacted the Bay Area arts Community quite hard. The San Jose City Lights Theater Company had to cancel its world premiere of the play “Coded” even before its first show and now Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette says the theater’s situation is “dire.” The proceeds from the sale of tickets and the concession sales typically make up about 40% of the theater’s revenue. The rest comes from donations according to Mallette. Lisa estimates that the theater needs to make about $10,000 before April 1 just to make a payroll and about $150,000 to cover its bills for the next two or three months.
The state and federal officials are advising people to work from home if possible, which is easy if you are in the tech, engineering, and financial sector, but the lowwage workers have been at a disadvantage. Cities in the state are considering temporary eviction bans. Fresno Mayer Lee Brand said that people would not have to worry about being evicted over a missed rent, however, no action has been taken on evictions.
“We understand that the state legislature and governor have approved a temporary ban on evictions for people impacted by the coronavirus. The important thing for the people of Fresno to know is that no one is going to be forced to move from their home during this crisis,” Brand said.
Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose are already moving forward on temporary eviction bans which is an incentive to help renters who can’t afford rent because of the crisis. Sacramento approved a $1 million economic relief package Friday for small local businesses including restaurants, retail and daycare providers.
Sources and Works Cited https://blackvoicenews.com/2020/03/20/lowwage-californians-worry-they-will-be-laid-offas-coronavirus-transforms-economy/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/22/ out-of-work-coronavirus-pandemic-turns-intoa-bay-area- jobscrisis/
